Community Reviews

a minor charachter in this book was trupein he was the infamous eyeball collector.He went town to town scamming people but he wanted to go into "retirement" so he needed to pull of the mother on all shams and his victams were the fitzbaldy's, hector the son of mr. fitzbaldy wanted to revenge his fathers name and his life so he fallowed trupein now know as the baron to town and his knowlegde of butterflies intrested him becuase his host was throughing a midwinter fest and she needed butterflies sa minor charachter in this book was trupein he was the infamous eyeball collector.He went town to town scamming people but he wanted to go into "retirement" so he needed to pull of the mother on all shams and his victams were the fitzbaldy's, hector the son of mr. fitzbaldy wanted to revenge his fathers name and his life so he fallowed trupein now know as the baron to town and his knowlegde of butterflies intrested him becuase his host was throughing a midwinter fest and she needed butterflies so he was hired and brought to the house were hector deviced a plan to murder him, during this time the host was also on the same path to killing her husband and the baron to steel all his money she as well as the baron was a master swindle and as this plan layed it self out all on the night of mid winter ball the baron's life was saved by hector and as he unravled what the night had instore for him he confessed that he was a rotten man and that his life swindles were worthless to him and made him feel sick so he took his own life. ...more

Kept me guessing. Very original. Have to love a book that uses words like coruscating, diurnal and crepuscular. I wouldn't call it steampunk, but definitely neo-Victorian alternate reality, kind of a gothic Dickens meets Poe. Intriguing, creative way to tell a tale, with combinations of omniscient narrative (switching back and forth between various POVs), letters, fliers, advertisements, and crossovers from other books in the series (apparently all stories happen concurrently and overlap in partKept me guessing. Very original. Have to love a book that uses words like coruscating, diurnal and crepuscular. I wouldn't call it steampunk, but definitely neo-Victorian alternate reality, kind of a gothic Dickens meets Poe. Intriguing, creative way to tell a tale, with combinations of omniscient narrative (switching back and forth between various POVs), letters, fliers, advertisements, and crossovers from other books in the series (apparently all stories happen concurrently and overlap in parts, but I've only read this book so far). Though the third book in a series, I had no problem following the characters and events to their macabre conclusion. Very creepy and disturbing -- the next step up from "Series of Unfortunate Events," with the eyeball collector a little bit like Count Olaf? Though the protagonist Hector is young (not sure of his age, but guessing around 12 or 13, if it was mentioned outright, I missed it), I'd recommend this for people over 13, and only those who aren't easily creeped out by taxidermy, leeches and disturbing treatment of animals. ...more

Edward Gorey once said, "I suppose I know a few tots who would like my books." In his day the man perfected the art of the macabre, helping to raise whole generations of children with a taste for the darkly humorous. Kids who continue to indulge such tastes have a strange array of books to choose from these days. They could read some Lemony Snicket, find old Charles Addams cartoons, or perhaps dip a toe in the waters of F.E. Higgins. I first read an F.E. Higgins book roundabout two years ago wheEdward Gorey once said, "I suppose I know a few tots who would like my books." In his day the man perfected the art of the macabre, helping to raise whole generations of children with a taste for the darkly humorous. Kids who continue to indulge such tastes have a strange array of books to choose from these days. They could read some Lemony Snicket, find old Charles Addams cartoons, or perhaps dip a toe in the waters of F.E. Higgins. I first read an F.E. Higgins book roundabout two years ago when she brought out the delightful The Black Book of Secrets. Then came The Bone Magician which she described as a kind of "paraquel", or story that takes place in the same world and in tandem with Black Book but doesn't overlap much. The Eyeball Collector is now the third, and perhaps the best, book in this delightfully twisted series so far. Containing a couple characters from the first two books, this latest book in the series stands entirely on its own and contains a world you might not want to visit personally, but that you'll gladly reread again and again. Youthful fans of the darkest recesses of the human brain will be inordinately pleased.

Be careful what you wish for. You might just get it. Hector Fitzbaudley would have done well to heed that advice. Bored by the life he leads with his well-to-do father and their collection of butterflies, Hector sometimes sneaks across the river to the bad part of town where he can watch life being lived. Yet when a mysterious one-eyed man causes the death of Mr. Fitzbaudley with a little blackmail, Hector vows to track down the villain and take revenge. His plan takes him to the beautiful but poisonous Withypitts Hall, presided over by Lady Mandible, a woman of unique and dangerous tastes. And even as Hector schemes, so too scheme the people around him, until at last he is caught in a web of lies and murder from which it will be difficult to escape. As Hector's father once said to him, "When you run with wolves, you become a wolf."

After reading The Black Book of Secrets I found that what I had on my hands was a book ideal for booktalking. For those of you who aren't familiar with it, a booktalk is a kind of verbal trailer or preview for a work of literature. Librarians typically get classes of middle grade or high school students then talk up titles in such a way that the kids feel they absolutely must read that book immediately! Black Book was good, but I can tell that I'll really be breaking out the old booktalking chompers for this new title. Think of all the crazy elements it contains! Death by butterfly, a cat eater, eyeballs for every day of the week, paintings created with blood, riddles, revenge, rescues, you name it!

Of course, Higgins's real strength lies in her delicious writing. Nobody conjures up descriptions like this woman. First there are the names to consider. Names like Lady Mandible, Urbs Umida, Pagus Parvus, the River Foedus, Baron Bovrik de Vandolin, and more. People tend to compare Higgins to Dickens, but I think the comparison is unfair. True she sets her books against a kind of pseudo-Dickensian background and uses funny names, but the stories are far more wonderfully lurid than Dickens. I ask you, how many stuffed gorilla chairs are there in Little Dorrit? Precisely. Case closed.

It's funny but Harry Potter fans may read Hector's invective of "Tartri flammis!" and fall under the mistaken impression that the boy has just cast some kind of spell. This is the kind of book where Latin is bandied about freely and riddles are in great supply. In fact, in the back of the book you will find the answers to many of the riddles Hector and others tell throughout the book. You will not necessarily know to check for these riddles ahead of time, but if you happen to stumble upon them you'll be pleased. I was particularly fond of the one involving an innkeeper, ten guests, and nine beds (I still haven't been able to figure out how it works).

It's not the first butterflies-and-gothic-secrets story I've ever read. Truth be told, the books reads as if Higgins was envious of the sordid butterfly world of A.S. Byatt's Angels & Insects and tweaked it ever so slightly to fit her own nefarious purposes. This, in turn, bring up the question of the readership for this book. What I like about Higgins, though, is that even as she's conjuring up horrific ideas left and right, she never goes so far that you'd have to call her books teen fare. It's the suggestion rather than the visceral description that has sway here. Kids reading this book (provided they've strong stomachs) should be fine. Evocative and capable of enveloping you in another world entirely, The Eyeball Collector has got to simply be one of the most enjoyable books out there. Enjoyable, that is, if you've a taste for twisted machinations and even stranger villainy. Your kids won't be putting this one down anytime soon.

Higgins is a really good author. I immensely enjoyed The Black Book and wish I'd read the middle one, The Bone Magician, which I somehow missed.

Hector Fitzbaudly, a child of wealth and learning, is suddenly paupered and orphaned because of the actions of a conartist who blackmails his family. Hector wanders into Urbs Umida (the seedy side of town we were introduced to in The Black Book) blindly, focused only upon revenge. When he gets his chance, will he take it?

I love that Higgins pulls in liHiggins is a really good author. I immensely enjoyed The Black Book and wish I'd read the middle one, The Bone Magician, which I somehow missed.

Hector Fitzbaudly, a child of wealth and learning, is suddenly paupered and orphaned because of the actions of a conartist who blackmails his family. Hector wanders into Urbs Umida (the seedy side of town we were introduced to in The Black Book) blindly, focused only upon revenge. When he gets his chance, will he take it?

I love that Higgins pulls in little surprises by connecting her books in little ways. It's not a series, but instead a set of books relating characters to one another. It's gorey enough to satisfy those young readers looking for a "scary" book. In fact, I found parts of it to be almost too scary (there are a few things that make me queasy, Higgins just happened to hit upon them).

It's a fun recommendation for middle grade/high school readers....more

This is the third story in the Tales From the Sinister City Series. Its a bit gothic, creepy, and a bit on the dark side and wonderful fun for all.

Hector lives on the wealthy side of Urbs Umida and enjoys crossing over to the wrong side of the river for adventure until he finds himself an orphan with no other place to go. Filled with revenge against the sinister Truepin, he soon finds himself embroiled in a mystery.

Mysteries woven into other mysteries, this story contains threads of the previousThis is the third story in the Tales From the Sinister City Series. Its a bit gothic, creepy, and a bit on the dark side and wonderful fun for all.

Hector lives on the wealthy side of Urbs Umida and enjoys crossing over to the wrong side of the river for adventure until he finds himself an orphan with no other place to go. Filled with revenge against the sinister Truepin, he soon finds himself embroiled in a mystery.

Mysteries woven into other mysteries, this story contains threads of the previous books but is a story all its own. I love how some of the previous loose ends are almost tied up but not really explained making you want to know more.

Overall, I love the series and can't wait to read more. This book as well as the series, is great for the kid in all of us. A cross between Poe and Dickens, a little bit dark, but a whole lot fun. ...more

This is another book that I have had on my shelves for years but never got round to reading so when I needed something to listen to next in my car and I saw this on the shelf at the library I thought I might as well listen to it instead.

The narrator wasn't bad, he wasn't as gripping as some of the others I've heard and he did a really silly accent for one of the characters which threw me off everytime he spoke but other than that he does quite a good job.

This story follows Hector as he journeysThis is another book that I have had on my shelves for years but never got round to reading so when I needed something to listen to next in my car and I saw this on the shelf at the library I thought I might as well listen to it instead.

The narrator wasn't bad, he wasn't as gripping as some of the others I've heard and he did a really silly accent for one of the characters which threw me off everytime he spoke but other than that he does quite a good job.

This story follows Hector as he journeys to try and get revenge on a man with a glass eye. This man blackmailed his father and ran his company into the ground. Having to give up his business and his precious butterfly collection pretty much finishes Hector's Dad off, so Hector want to make this man pay for what he has done. His journey takes him to the South side of the bridge, life is harder over there and he ends up in a house for abandoned boys with lots of other kids, sort of street urchins. But then he bumps into the mysterious man with the glass eye and Hector takes his chance and ends up going back with him to Withypitts hall. But is revenge the best idea, as more strange events and mysteries occur Hector starts to wonder if this is what he really wants.

To be honest this book had a pretty good concept and was good enough to make me want to know how it ended but I wasn't hooked. I kept realising that I had lost focus and missed a bit of the story but I was never bothered enough to go back and listen to it again and I don't think I missed that much of importance. For me the story was just a bit too drawn out, I kept waiting for some action or revelation from Hector but it didn't come. He also has a phrase that he says when something goes wrong which at first was quite sweet but then it just got a bit annoying to me.

The ending wasn't bad and pulls everything together and finishes off the story but I just wasn't hooked. It was fairly amusing and the characters are well written - they certainly have great personalities. This just wasn't for me in the end....more

I thoroughly enjoyed this trio of books. Not a trilogy, as each book is separate from the other, but the three stories share overlapping characters and settings. The only issue I had with this story was the scene with the cat; being a cat lover, and remembering this is a YA novel, the scene was overly gruesome and NOT appropriate for the age range which this book was intended. Overall however, the story was gripping, dark, and intertwined with a good message; revenge is never as good as first thI thoroughly enjoyed this trio of books. Not a trilogy, as each book is separate from the other, but the three stories share overlapping characters and settings. The only issue I had with this story was the scene with the cat; being a cat lover, and remembering this is a YA novel, the scene was overly gruesome and NOT appropriate for the age range which this book was intended. Overall however, the story was gripping, dark, and intertwined with a good message; revenge is never as good as first thought.I look forward to reading book 4....more

THE EYEBALL COLLECTOR is a pretty neat book. I actually bought it for $1 at a Dollar Store because I thought the cover was cool. Usually, I'm wary about books like these because juvenile fantasy can be just that...juvenile. Never have I been more wrong!

I was telling my friend that this would make an awesome Tim Burton movie because Urbs Umida has the dark, gloomy atmosphere of Corpse Bride & The Nightmare Before Christmas.

THE EYEBALL COLLECTOR is a pretty neat book. I actually bought it for $1 at a Dollar Store because I thought the cover was cool. Usually, I'm wary about books like these because juvenile fantasy can be just that...juvenile. Never have I been more wrong!

I was telling my friend that this would make an awesome Tim Burton movie because Urbs Umida has the dark, gloomy atmosphere of Corpse Bride & The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Hector Fitzbaudly is the son of an esteemed wine merchant and butterfly hobbyist. He has lived in modest luxury his whole life, although he has been fascinated by the seedy side across the river, even getting mugged one day while slumming it up. Hector gets more acquainted with the wrong side of the river than he might lie, though, when an opportunistic conman named Trupin blackmails his father and then sells his story to the Diurnal Journal, anyway, for a tidy sum of money. What an asshole!

Hector swears revenge, and we follow him from a boys' home, to the castle of Lord and Lady Mandible. Because Truepin has remade himself as a foreign baron & is hanging around with the Mandibles who are, for lack of a better word, creepy.

The writing in this book is great. The fantasy element...maybe not so fantastic, although it is interesting. Urbs Umida seems to be an alternate England where fantastic beasts rove the woods, & everyone is just a bit more morbid than the actual Victorians were (which says a lot because -- hair jewelry and taxidermy were pretty much all the rage back in Queen Victoria's time).

One thing I really liked was how dark and atmospheric THE EYEBALL COLLECTOR was. The evil people in this book really are evil. There are paintings done in blood, a cloak of living butterflies, the bad guys kill animals for fun (this is how you know that they are really evil), and some centaur-like creature gets turned into a chair and it is morbid as fuck.

I gave this book to one of my friends who is really into Goth culture. I think she'll enjoy this book -- at least, I hope she will. If you like Victorian-era/Steampunk/mannerpunk fiction, or are into Goth culture as well, you should read this book. I'm definitely going to be keeping an eye out for more books in the Tales of the Sinister City series.

Oh, and don't be alarmed that this book is #3 in the series. It was meant to work as a standalone. The author has this adorable author's note where she says that she meant her books as "paraquels" or books that can be read in parallel with one another & have recurring characters, but that aren't dependent on the previous books. That's a really neat idea. :)

Hector Fitzbaudly leads a privileged life. He lives in a mansion with his father, wears stylish, expensive clothes and goes to the best school. He and his father are free to spend as much time and money as they wish on their magnificent butterfly collection.

One night, Hector’s father receives a mysterious guest…and from that night forward Hector’s life begins to unravel. The mysterious man knows something about Hector’s father. Hector’s father is willing to pay a steep price to keep the man quieHector Fitzbaudly leads a privileged life. He lives in a mansion with his father, wears stylish, expensive clothes and goes to the best school. He and his father are free to spend as much time and money as they wish on their magnificent butterfly collection.

One night, Hector’s father receives a mysterious guest…and from that night forward Hector’s life begins to unravel. The mysterious man knows something about Hector’s father. Hector’s father is willing to pay a steep price to keep the man quiet.

The stress of the secret extracts an even bigger price when Hector’s father drops dead from a heart attack and leaves Hector to deal with the fact that their fortune is actually gone. Turned out into the street, Hector sets off on his own. He has nothing…except a burning desire for revenge against the mysterious one-eyed guest that Hector blames for his father’s death and for the loss of his father’s fortune. The one-eyed man might be smart, he might be devious, he might have a sinister plan, but Hector is smart too. He can be devious. He can come up with a plan.

Hector follows the one-eyed man to the home of Lady Mandible. Lady Mandible hires Hector to live at the mansion and raise butterflies, giving Hector the opportunity to sneak around at night hoping to find out more about the one-eyed man. Hector discovers some unsavory information about “Lady” Mandible. She collects all kinds of gruesome art and she paints some pictures herself…with blood!

Creepy enough for you? How about this: her guest, the one-eyed man, well, he collects eyeballs. Glass ones, but still…eyeballs. If you like the deliciously macabre (that means shockingly offensive), then you’ll love reading about Lady Mandible. She’s Cruella DeVil without the puppies, and she’ll stop at nothing to get exactly what she wants.

Hector gets quite a dose of sinister and has to decide what to do with his desire for revenge. Should he play the same game as Lady Mandible and the Eyeball Collector…or is there a sweeter revenge? Author: F.E. Higgins

The Eyeball Collector was a discount read. I found it in one of my local retail chains very cheap so I bought it. Mostly because of the title and the cool design of the book cover. I had never heard of this series and after reading it discovered it was part of a preteen novel series aimed at getting young boys to read. Here is something I have learned over the years, A good story is a good story. Don’t let marketing get in the way of reading something with pre-conceived notions that it is not reThe Eyeball Collector was a discount read. I found it in one of my local retail chains very cheap so I bought it. Mostly because of the title and the cool design of the book cover. I had never heard of this series and after reading it discovered it was part of a preteen novel series aimed at getting young boys to read. Here is something I have learned over the years, A good story is a good story. Don’t let marketing get in the way of reading something with pre-conceived notions that it is not relatable. I have enjoyed many a book that is aimed at younger audiences. The Eyeball Collector is a good story. It is a period story that takes place in a time of powdered wigs, decadence, and a strong division between those who have and those who have not. F.E. Higgins somehow manages to weave stories that feel almost familiar and yet new and wondrous at the same time. This is part of a young adventure series but I can guarantee after reading this book that you do not have to have read earlier novels or be familiar with the author to enjoy this book.

The Eyeball Collector is a steady journey from a simple life of leisure as enjoyed by aristocratic families into a moderate spiral into chaos and re-adjustment for a young boy after the death of his father due to a blackmailer. The characters are defined enough that you can feel invested in them but do not go as deep into their character nature as an adult novel would but that is intended to keep the attention of the younger reader. However there is enough here that the characters come alive with intrigue and mystery. It is a period book as I said earlier so if you don’t know or care for the nuances of a time before modern conveniences then you may not relate to this story. However if anything from the periods of Sherlock Holmes back to the time of Powdered wigs are part of your weekly reading or viewing pleasure then this novel will suit you well. The story is simple yet entertaining with mild dramatic points that are comparable to a family approved rating so there are no salacious or crude material with the pages. It is a journey of a boy who starts out to seek revenge but along the way finds a better way to deal with his new circumstances and reaches a goal of resolution with positive outcomes. The Eyeball Collector tells a fascinating story of a time when things seemed almost mystical and truly fanciful. I would not have set out to read the book knowing the principles for which it was written but having read the book I found it a pleasurable fast read that was well worth my two dollars....more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.I found this story to have some truly disturbing elements. The character of Lady Mandible is one of the most vile creations I have ever read in a children’s novel; she most definitely has a “strange taste for the macabre.”

Spoiler – The description of the French cat eater was disgusting. It was not the act itself so much, but Lady Mandible’s sheer delight in the action. I must admit, I was also very put out to discover the live butterfly cape she wore to the feast.

Lady Mandible is a twisted, darkI found this story to have some truly disturbing elements. The character of Lady Mandible is one of the most vile creations I have ever read in a children’s novel; she most definitely has a “strange taste for the macabre.”

Spoiler – The description of the French cat eater was disgusting. It was not the act itself so much, but Lady Mandible’s sheer delight in the action. I must admit, I was also very put out to discover the live butterfly cape she wore to the feast.

Lady Mandible is a twisted, dark character. As much as I enjoyed her, I was also frustrated. Higgins keeps introducing new characters and plots while very slowly resolving the issues she raised in the previous books. I am beginning to lose interest in the series because each new installment is full of wonderful new characters and their dark tales, but they only serve to add another strand to this frayed collection of stories with the briefest of character overlap. I will try reading The Lunatic’s Curse, but then I might be done with this series, especially if there fails to be any form of resolution, again. ...more

The Eyeball Collector has got it all. A villain as dastardly as Count Olaf, with an eyepatch and multiple disguises. An orphan straight out of a Dickens novel with thieving compatriots reminiscent of the Artful Dodger and company. A cold and imperious noble, Lady Mandible, who has mysterious plans of her own. A spine-shivery, gothic atmosphere tinged with menace.

At first I saw nothing. The moon was behind the swollen clouds and the sheetingMurder

Eyeballs

Puzzling riddles

Leeches

...and Butterflies?

The Eyeball Collector has got it all. A villain as dastardly as Count Olaf, with an eyepatch and multiple disguises. An orphan straight out of a Dickens novel with thieving compatriots reminiscent of the Artful Dodger and company. A cold and imperious noble, Lady Mandible, who has mysterious plans of her own. A spine-shivery, gothic atmosphere tinged with menace.

At first I saw nothing. The moon was behind the swollen clouds and the sheeting rain made everything blurry. but then pitchforked lightning split the inky sky and my heart faltered. In its white light, my disbelieving eyes saw a vast jagged silhouette stretching across a broad mountainous outcrop like a diabolical gathering of crouching devils. Their horns were the towers and the light burning in the windows their evil red eyes.

"Tatri flammis!" I breathed and could say not another word. This behemoth before me was Whittypitts Hall.

"This is madness!" shouted Solomon. "Come back with me. It's not too late."

Hector is a plucky and likeable hero, with a special gift of riddling which helps him survive after his father dies. Another gift, one for cultivating rare butterflies, lands him in luxurious Whittypitts Hall, close enough to exact revenge on the man he blames for his father's death, Baron Bovrik de Vandolin. However, these gifts and his desire for revenge also puts him in harm's way, for there are evil doings happening in Whittypitts Hall, centered around the enigmatic Lady Mandible. Hector plots to exact revenge on the night of the Mandible Midwinter Feast, but his plans threaten to go awry when Lady Mandible and Baron Bovrik's terrible secrets are revealed...

Every time I think I have seen the worst this abominable place has to offer, I am proved wrong. As for the despicable man who plays at Baron, I can hardly wait until the feast is over and my task completed. Then I shall be gone from here, for I swear, if I have to stay a moment longer I fear for my sanity and my character.

What goes on during the Mandible Midwinter Feast is memorable, not only because the plot climaxes at this point, but also for the truly awful feast that commences. I am specially attuned to food description in books and this one made me naseous. If I ever compile a list of the best of the worst food scenes, this will be the very first to come to mind.

The revelers, each and every one, ate as if there was no tomorrow. What a feast it was! ... As fast as a pitcher of wine or a plate of food was brought out, it was emptied and another was demanded. Up and down the length of the table gaping mouths and drooling, dribbling chins were the order of the day, and the beleaguered servers were grabbed by one fellow and tugged by another until their tunics were practically torn asunder.

He watched the guests feed, hand to plate to mouth, hand to plate to mouth, in a ceaseless repetition. Dormouse tails (apparently particularly delicious) dangled from their lips; entire sparrows dropped into their gaping maws; fat plums and cherries ready to burst were forced into their mouths until the juices squirted in all directions. This was not hunger, this was sheer unadulterated gluttony.

Although this is Higgins's third book set in Urbs Umida and apparently including some recurring character(s) from The Black Book of Secrets and The Bone Magician, The Eyeball Collector is a stand alone book. I haven't read the other two (but I soon will!) and I was not at all lost reading this one.

The Eyeball Collector is a well-written, intelligent book with gothic suspense for middle grade to young adults. Best of all, it has riddling conundrums sprinkled throughout like little treats (with answers in the back of the book). There is some violence. ...more

This is not a bad book; it is quite well written with a very intricate plot. However, it is a very dark book that left me quite a bit upset overall.

Young Hector Fitzbaudly has found himself thrust into a life of poverty as a result of a horrible scammer and blackmailer by the name of Gulliver Truepin. Truepin's misdeeds lead Hector's father to kill himself, placing Hector all alone on the bad side of town without a penny to his name. Hector vows to get his revenge and quickly finds an opportunitThis is not a bad book; it is quite well written with a very intricate plot. However, it is a very dark book that left me quite a bit upset overall.

Young Hector Fitzbaudly has found himself thrust into a life of poverty as a result of a horrible scammer and blackmailer by the name of Gulliver Truepin. Truepin's misdeeds lead Hector's father to kill himself, placing Hector all alone on the bad side of town without a penny to his name. Hector vows to get his revenge and quickly finds an opportunity when he discovers Truepin's new identity as the Baron von Bovrik, a man who manages to get himself in good with the wealthiest woman around, Lady Mandible, and finance his future by stealing from her lavish mansion. Under the guise of helping with her upcoming ball, Hector is able to track Truepin's every move. However, he quickly discovers a very dark side to these social elitists, one that Hector doubts even Truepin is aware of.

Normally I would consider this a great book filled with little mysteries and plenty of plot to work off of for books to come. I'm a fan of Higgins' earlier works and was eager to try this book out. Perhaps it just caught me at a bad time, or perhaps it's just because I am the kind of person who cries over roadkill, but this book was far too grim for my tastes. Lady Mandible is truly a monster of epic proportions. In particular, there is one scene involving a housecat being eaten whole other than its head that just really put me off of the book. I admit to being overly sensitive when it comes to animals, though, so perhaps others wouldn't be bothered as much! ...more

Rowani wanted to say thanks for your review. it's rare that i don't want to read a book. your observations about what was particularly off-putting with thii wanted to say thanks for your review. it's rare that i don't want to read a book. your observations about what was particularly off-putting with this book helped me avoid a similar experience. like you, i probably would not have been able to handle some of the elements mentioned....more
Oct 19, 2010 12:11PM

A middle-grade book with boys in mind and part of a series of 'Tales From the Sinister City' (Urbs Umida) a kind of steamy Victorianesque place of gaslamps, cobblestones, pickpockets. The book is populated by characters with names like Lord Mandible, Oscar Carpue and Lottie Fitch. Our hero, the gently brought up and well-educated Hector Fizbaudly, loses everything when his rich businessman father dies after having been blackmailed by the dastardly one-eyed Gulliver Truepin. Swearing revenge, HecA middle-grade book with boys in mind and part of a series of 'Tales From the Sinister City' (Urbs Umida) a kind of steamy Victorianesque place of gaslamps, cobblestones, pickpockets. The book is populated by characters with names like Lord Mandible, Oscar Carpue and Lottie Fitch. Our hero, the gently brought up and well-educated Hector Fizbaudly, loses everything when his rich businessman father dies after having been blackmailed by the dastardly one-eyed Gulliver Truepin. Swearing revenge, Hector a clever riddler and quite the survivor follows Truepin, now calling himself Baron Bovrik out of the city to the home of Lord and Lady Mandible where there's more skulldugery going on and not all of it perpetrated by Truepin/Bovrik.

It's an engaging little tale, but not as gruesome as its title suggests since the eyeball collector, Truepin, is only collecting fancy false eyeballs for his missing socket. I'm not tempted to read any more tales from the Sinister City, but I might be if I were a nine year old boy. I must admit I found this a little self-conscious...more

This is the third book in Higgins Tales from the Sinister City series. All of these tales are separate stories, but the characters do have some cross over from book to book. I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as the first two books, but it was still a wonderful story. Unlike previous stories this story didn't really have any element of magic to it; it was a creepy and fun historical mystery with a heavy Victorian overtone to it.

Hector is the son on a wealthy wine merchant. He has led a lifeThis is the third book in Higgins Tales from the Sinister City series. All of these tales are separate stories, but the characters do have some cross over from book to book. I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as the first two books, but it was still a wonderful story. Unlike previous stories this story didn't really have any element of magic to it; it was a creepy and fun historical mystery with a heavy Victorian overtone to it.

Hector is the son on a wealthy wine merchant. He has led a life of privledge, only occasionally touring the destitute south side of the city which he finds kind of exciting. When his father's business is ruined because of his father's shady past in gin selling and his father perishes; Hector suddenly finds himself destitute and living in the horrible South side of the city. He is taken in by a nice woman and her husband but has sworn revenge on the man who ruined his father. When the very man who ruins his father hires Hector for his knowledge of butterflies Hector is given the perfect opporunity for his revenge.

This book wasn't as dark as the previous books, but it was still a pretty dark story. The majority of the characters are very realistic and flawed, at times they are not all that likable but they are always interesting. I loved all the knowledge Hector had about butterflies and poisons; it was fun to read about. I loved how characters from previous books are woven into small roles in this story.

Higgins does an excellent job painting a dark and creepy atmosphere. It is easy to visualize the surroundings. While the characters don't have a ton of depth to them, they are all very quirky and interesting.

The plot moved quickly and had some interesting twists and turns. I love the plan Hector comes up with for revenge; it is so creative, so elegant, yet kind of twisted. The concept of how revenge can twist a person is discussed and it was well done; yeah this is a theme that's been used many time in many stories before but it really works for this story and has a lot of creative elements to it.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, although not as much as previous ones. I didn't click as well with Hector as I have with the lead characters in the previous two books. I still loved the twisted and dark Sinister City, the quirky characters, and the creative turns the plot took. This is an excellent book for middle grade and older. It should appeal to those who like their mystery/adventure with a tad of the fantastic, a lot of dark and twisted strangeness, and a little bit of gruesomeness. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series, The Lunatic's Curse....more

The first Book of this series "The Black Book of Secrets" are one of my favorites and I loved to read the second book "The Bone Magician", but in contrast to these books I did not get warm with the main character. It might be that I did not like the single minded revenge plot of Hector. Further on the other characters in this book has not enough space or are too cold. Therefore this book is the weakest of the three books so far. Nevertheless I hope the last book will be better and connect the stThe first Book of this series "The Black Book of Secrets" are one of my favorites and I loved to read the second book "The Bone Magician", but in contrast to these books I did not get warm with the main character. It might be that I did not like the single minded revenge plot of Hector. Further on the other characters in this book has not enough space or are too cold. Therefore this book is the weakest of the three books so far. Nevertheless I hope the last book will be better and connect the strings of the story to a satisfactory end....more

Great sequel to The Black Book of Secrets in the uniquely dark world of F.E. Higgins where everyone has a dark secret past. The story again pits the good-hearted heroes against wholly decadent and twisted villains who seek to feed their dark lusts at the expense of the innocent and again the struggle is not only against their evil plots and devices alone, but also against becoming as corrupted as the villains in the process of foiling their evil plots and exacting revenge.

I am greatly enjoying tGreat sequel to The Black Book of Secrets in the uniquely dark world of F.E. Higgins where everyone has a dark secret past. The story again pits the good-hearted heroes against wholly decadent and twisted villains who seek to feed their dark lusts at the expense of the innocent and again the struggle is not only against their evil plots and devices alone, but also against becoming as corrupted as the villains in the process of foiling their evil plots and exacting revenge.

I am greatly enjoying this series and the continuing mysteries each story continues to answer and bring up around the Black Book of Secrets, the origins of the table leg, and the pawnbroker of secrets. The audio book is especially good as the accents and voices truly bring the story to life.

I didn't realize when I picked up this book that it was part of a series. In fact, I didn't realize it until I got to the author's note at the end. It reads well as a standalone but I still want to read the other books. I love the setting... sort of a Victorian fantasy world. Nothing strictly speaking supernatural happens, but in the same style as A Series of Unfortunate Events rather improbably things happen and I believe the book is not set in "our world." It was quite dark and disturbing at tI didn't realize when I picked up this book that it was part of a series. In fact, I didn't realize it until I got to the author's note at the end. It reads well as a standalone but I still want to read the other books. I love the setting... sort of a Victorian fantasy world. Nothing strictly speaking supernatural happens, but in the same style as A Series of Unfortunate Events rather improbably things happen and I believe the book is not set in "our world." It was quite dark and disturbing at times and I liked the parts that were like letters and newspapers. There were also some really fun riddles; I was able to solve a few on my own (well, there's the classic one lies/one tells the truth as seen in Labyrinth and other places)....more

Hector Fitzbaudly gets his wish to experience the seedier side of Urbs Umida when his father is blackmailed with a secret form his past. Finding himself penniless and homeless, Hector realizes this is not the life he wants and he decides to seek revenge. Unfortunately, the Eyeball Collector is a master of disguise! This book is called a “polyquel” by the author, as it contains elements from both The Black Book of Secrets and The Bone Magician as well as its own mysteries. This book may not interHector Fitzbaudly gets his wish to experience the seedier side of Urbs Umida when his father is blackmailed with a secret form his past. Finding himself penniless and homeless, Hector realizes this is not the life he wants and he decides to seek revenge. Unfortunately, the Eyeball Collector is a master of disguise! This book is called a “polyquel” by the author, as it contains elements from both The Black Book of Secrets and The Bone Magician as well as its own mysteries. This book may not interest readers who haven't read the two previous books but it can stand alone. More than likely readers will be intrigued by this book to go an pick up the other works which I feel are stronger and more fun to read....more

The first I'd heard of F.E.Higgins was when she gave a speech at my daughter's school Speech Day last July, and handed a prize to my little treasure. She of course plugged her three books - The Black Book Of Secrets, The Bone Magician, and this one.

Then, an eerie coincidence. My Dad gives me a copy of 'The Eyeball Collector' a few days later as a birthday present. Spooky!

It's a great little gothic yarn. It will be a few years before my young'un will have the stomach to read this! More macabre thThe first I'd heard of F.E.Higgins was when she gave a speech at my daughter's school Speech Day last July, and handed a prize to my little treasure. She of course plugged her three books - The Black Book Of Secrets, The Bone Magician, and this one.

Then, an eerie coincidence. My Dad gives me a copy of 'The Eyeball Collector' a few days later as a birthday present. Spooky!

It's a great little gothic yarn. It will be a few years before my young'un will have the stomach to read this! More macabre than gory, though. Very rich in vocabulary and description. I shall certainly 'keep an eye out' for the other two. Not literally, though.......more

This book seems perfect for Middle School-age boys: moments of humor, that deliciously gross factor that age group loves, a world they can believe. And riddles.

The plot is pretty simple: boy's father dies after losing his fortune, boy plots revenge, boy almost realizes revenge. The titular man is a blackmailer (among other things) and the to-be-revenged-upon character, with just enough "ewww" in him. Lady Mandible is creepy, and the name! Really: mandible? Love. It.

Not quite a sequel, it's a newThis book seems perfect for Middle School-age boys: moments of humor, that deliciously gross factor that age group loves, a world they can believe. And riddles.

The plot is pretty simple: boy's father dies after losing his fortune, boy plots revenge, boy almost realizes revenge. The titular man is a blackmailer (among other things) and the to-be-revenged-upon character, with just enough "ewww" in him. Lady Mandible is creepy, and the name! Really: mandible? Love. It.

Not quite a sequel, it's a new part of Higgins' world in the same way the Fire is part of the Graceling world, a world that boys (that supposedly hard-to-reach group) will enjoy exploring....more

Hector is a plucky and likeable hero, with a special gift of riddling and another of cultivating butterflies. The antagonist, the ever-devious Baron Bovrik de Vandolin, is a wonderfully developed character who justifies his trespasses against Hector with flashbacks of his childhood. The writing style F.E. Higgins uses is simply put: entrancing. Higgins keeps you on your toes through every truly unexpected twist and turn of the book.Murder

Eyeballs

Puzzling riddles

Leeches

...and Butterflies?

WTF?

Hector is a plucky and likeable hero, with a special gift of riddling and another of cultivating butterflies. The antagonist, the ever-devious Baron Bovrik de Vandolin, is a wonderfully developed character who justifies his trespasses against Hector with flashbacks of his childhood. The writing style F.E. Higgins uses is simply put: entrancing. Higgins keeps you on your toes through every truly unexpected twist and turn of the book. Obviously, a well thought-out plot. I commend and worship F.E. Higgins for writing such a series....more

What's not to like about a story where a boy loses his father and everything they owned, seeks revenge, and along the way ends up chasing a one-eyed lunatic to the mansion of an even more deranged noble lady, where he gets to encounter some pretty disturbing food and clothing choices, an angry hog that wants its own revenge, and mysterious deaths? The language is a little more advanced than the average brain-candy that's often published for this age group, but the story is well worth it! RecommeWhat's not to like about a story where a boy loses his father and everything they owned, seeks revenge, and along the way ends up chasing a one-eyed lunatic to the mansion of an even more deranged noble lady, where he gets to encounter some pretty disturbing food and clothing choices, an angry hog that wants its own revenge, and mysterious deaths? The language is a little more advanced than the average brain-candy that's often published for this age group, but the story is well worth it! Recommended for middle school and up, especially boys. ...more

Another wickedly wonderful installment in the Tales From the Sinister City series. In this volume Hector finds himself in the grimy city Urbs Urmida. After previously living a life of privilege Hector is now struggling to support himself after his father's fortune is lost because of shady business dealings. Hector is hired by the man who caused his father's financial demise and vows to seek revenge. The Eyeball is my favorite in the series and in my opinion the darkest of the three. I would recoAnother wickedly wonderful installment in the Tales From the Sinister City series. In this volume Hector finds himself in the grimy city Urbs Urmida. After previously living a life of privilege Hector is now struggling to support himself after his father's fortune is lost because of shady business dealings. Hector is hired by the man who caused his father's financial demise and vows to seek revenge. The Eyeball is my favorite in the series and in my opinion the darkest of the three. I would recommend this book to fans of dark fiction....more

The final book of the trilogy by F.E. Higgins. All these books are very fresh in their ideas. This one in particular is full of intrigue, scandal, plotting, death and murder!

Written in the perspective of a young boy whose father was blackmailed and ultimately died, leaving young Hector alone and penniless. His drive to seek revenge on the blackmailer leads him to a strange manorhouse called Withypitts Hall, run by the eccentric Lady Mandible who has an odd taste for the macabre.

Read these booksThe final book of the trilogy by F.E. Higgins. All these books are very fresh in their ideas. This one in particular is full of intrigue, scandal, plotting, death and murder!

Written in the perspective of a young boy whose father was blackmailed and ultimately died, leaving young Hector alone and penniless. His drive to seek revenge on the blackmailer leads him to a strange manorhouse called Withypitts Hall, run by the eccentric Lady Mandible who has an odd taste for the macabre.

This was not my favorite of the three paraquels (that still goes to The Black Book of Secrets), but I really enjoy F.E. Higgins' stories and style. There were some tragically funny and ironic bits (particularly involving the feast at the end) that really appealed to the darker side of my humor. The characters are quite unique - often funny and bizarre (like Lord Mandible and Mrs. Fitch) or sometimes strangely creepy. I felt that some of the darker sides of Lady Mandible's character however, nevThis was not my favorite of the three paraquels (that still goes to The Black Book of Secrets), but I really enjoy F.E. Higgins' stories and style. There were some tragically funny and ironic bits (particularly involving the feast at the end) that really appealed to the darker side of my humor. The characters are quite unique - often funny and bizarre (like Lord Mandible and Mrs. Fitch) or sometimes strangely creepy. I felt that some of the darker sides of Lady Mandible's character however, never really got explained. ...more

Higgins just keeps getting better and better! The Eyeball Collector is written in a theme similar to Charles William's Descent Into Hell as a boy is overtaken by his need for revenge. Beautiful writing, and disgusting at some points, when the boy realizes his need for repentance in the worst of situations. Higgins' themes of the fruit of repentance and forgiveness are getting clearer and clearer, but she still adds to the mystery, so I'm hoping for a fourth installment!

This is my E book. It was an excellent tale! A young lad who's life is set upside down by a vile blackmailer sets off for REVENGE! I don't want to say too much more about the plot. I had planned on leaving it at work and reading it on breaks. However it got too exciting! I had to know what Hector was going to do!

There are several very interesting characters. I like it enough that I will read F.E. Higgins other two books when I get done with my Alphabet goal.

F.E. Higgins has been fascinated by the macabre ever since seeing a ghostly apparition as a child. Nowadays Higgins travels the lands that these books describe, collecting strange artifacts and the even stranger stories behind them. When not in pursuit of a story, Higgins may be found in a haunted house in Kent, where a dismembered hand cradles a large diamond on the mantelpiece.